Brent Budowsky: There is a GOP distemper in Washington, an overreaching of aggressive tactics against Democrats and an underachievement of success in governing. The result? Obama rises in favorability, Clinton rises against Republicans.

Eric A. Gordon: The amazing rise of popular activism over the last year or so is an encouraging sign, especially as much of it is linked to the organized labor movement and to faith and community groups.

Lila Garrett: Why are the Democrats who have just lost the House and Senate by disgraceful numbers in such a good mood? They lost they seem to be energized, relaxed—like members of a chain gang who have just been unlocked.

Charles Hayes: Even though the basic social employment contract has been gutted, voices on the Right still whine about a deficit of moral virtue, as if all people have to do is just start acting responsible.

Sharon Kyle: Tune in today, on our LA Progressive Live! show to hear us discuss these particular articles and the possible reasons for their popularity. This is a call-in show so you’re welcomed to join the conversation.

Devin Griggs: Sen. Paul has time and time again attempted to introduce a national version of a so-called “right-to-work” law during his time in the United States Senate, although thankfully these attempts have, for the time being, been beaten back.

Larry Wines: Shut the government down. Do it. Throw your temper-tantrum, shake your baby rattle, have another drink, crawl back into your tanning booth, and cry yourself to sleep because you can’t give your extremist teabagger absolutists their way about everything.

Brent Budowsky: These two women, who agree on virtually every issue that would form the platform to restore the dream, have the potential to build a relationship that would be complementary, synergistic and inspiring for Democrats.

RJ Eskow: Voters can sense an absence of conviction from a political party. The absence of a unifying core may help explain the Democrats’ devastating 2014 performance. The electorate may have concluded that, to paraphrase Gertrude Stein, there was no there there.

The Body Politic

Dave Zirin: She is our Jordan. She is our Jim Brown. She is our Babe Ruth, calling his shots. She is no longer content to dodge bullets, but understands how to stop them. Serena is that rare athlete who has not only mastered her sport. She’s harnessed it.